Dear Old Gold
Fansided

Iowa football: 4-star offensive tackle set to visit Hawks

By Ryan Sikes

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 7: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes is seen before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. Iowa defeated Indiana 35-27. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 7: Head coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes is seen before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Bloomington, Indiana. Iowa defeated Indiana 35-27. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Iowa football 2020 recruiting class is already looking to be in good shape. They could get a big boost if four-star Connor McLaughlin commits after his visit.

The Iowa football team’s 2020 recruiting class is currently ranked 17th in the country and could get a huge bump soon. The Hawkeyes are set to host four-star offensive tackle Connor McLaughlin the weekend of June 7. He is one of Kirk Ferentz’ top targets left for this class after getting fellow offensive lineman Tyler Elsbury to verbally commit back in March.

McLaughlin is from Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida and is ranked as the 44th best recruit in the state and the 26th best offensive tackle in the country. He currently holds offers from 29 schools with Stanford, Duke, Miami (FL), USC, and Iowa to be in his final five.

The Tampa native already has terrific size that Kirk Ferentz would love to plug into his offensive line on day 1 standing at 6-7 and weighing 260 pounds. 247 Sports’ crystal ball prediction has him going to Stanford but that can all change when after he visits Iowa. The Hawkeyes are notorious for producing NFL offensive lineman, as is Stanford for that matter.

McLaughlin has primarily played at left tackle in his high school career which is currently occupied by Alaric Jackson for the Hawkeyes. However, he is projected to be a first-round pick already so there is some potential that the redshirt junior leaves for the NFL. The Hawkeyes have Mark Kallenberger waiting in the wings at the position.

Kallenberger played in place of Jackson when he was suspended for the first game last season, so left tackle figures to be Kallenberger’s job to lose. That being said, there is plenty of opportunity at the right tackle position as both Tristan Wirfs and Levi Paulsen are seniors with no clear successor after the 2019 season.

Taking a quick look at the early projected depth chart for Stanford this coming season, they have two juniors occupying the tackle positions so unless one of them leaves for the NFL, McLaughlin would likely have to wait at least a year before he sees any action.

Next. Nate Stanley’s accuracy needs to improve. dark

McLaughlin would be a terrific commitment for what is shaping up to be one of the best recruiting classes that Kirk Ferentz has ever had.

Home/Iowa Football